Deplorable:
The first session of the Republican National Convention opened with the Pledge of Allegiance led by Debbie Kraulidis, an Illinois activist who attended the Jan. 6, 2021, rally on the National Mall that led to a riot at the U.S. Capitol.
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Nevada GOP Chairman Michael McDonald, who seconded Donald Trump’s formal nomination for president, helped organize alternate electors falsely claiming Trump won his state in 2020.
Ed Martin, the deputy policy director of the convention platform committee, was in the mob outside the Capitol on Jan. 6. At least three other people photographed in that mob are serving as delegates. So are five people who previously served as alternate electors, including four who have been charged with fraud, forgery and conspiracy.
Their roles in this convention show how much election denial has permeated the party and its institutional acceptance of the first disruption to the peaceful transfer of power since the Civil War. Even before Saturday’s assassination attempt led leaders of both parties to urge restraint of violent language, the convention organizers were working to avoid making Jan. 6 central to the week’s programming, in contrast to the typical emphasis in Trump’s speeches and interviews.
“The overall viewpoint we have right now is looking forward,” Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley said in an interview last week, before the assassination attempt. Asked whether Jan. 6 would be on the agenda, Whatley said, “No, not at all.”
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Trump’s advisers don’t view Jan. 6 and election fraud claims as favorable issues for the voters Trump needs to win, instead framing the convention around Republican polling strengths such as the economy, crime, immigration and foreign policy. Still, the presence of Jan. 6 participants and critical responses from Democrats are poised to complicate those efforts as the shadow of Trump’s efforts to overturn the last election remains a driving force of his candidacy and party.
“It’s stupid,” said Marc Short, a top aide for former vice president Mike Pence, who refused Trump’s pressure to try to overturn Joe Biden’s 2020 victory. “Don’t do anything at the convention that takes away attention from Biden. Doing something controversial that involves the fake electors does that.”
The Biden campaign and the Democratic National Committee are planning billboards, bus wraps, news conferences and surrogates on the ground in Milwaukee to counterprogram the convention with messages, including about Trump’s pledge to pardon people convicted in the Jan. 6 riot and his threats of further political violence if he loses again.
“Trump’s Republican Party is based on election denialism and loyalty to him over everything,” DNC spokeswoman Hannah Muldavin said. “Trump’s far-right MAGA policies have fully taken over the Republican Party and their platform.”
Trump’s rallies sometimes start with a rendition of the national anthem and the Pledge of Allegiance featuring his voice alongside inmates charged in the riot, including some convicted of assaulting police. Over the years since the riot, he has steadily increased his glorification of the defendants, hailing them as mistreated patriots. His mention of “the J6 people” at a rally in Florida last week prompted cries of “Release the hostages!”
“All of their persecution is only happening because I am running for president,” he said at the Florida rally. About 1,000 people have pleaded guilty or been convicted at trial in connection with the riot, a third of them for felonies and two-thirds for misdemeanors such as trespassing in the restricted Capitol building or on its grounds. Four people died in the melee.
The danger of escalating political violence in America reached another tragic milestone with Saturday’s shooting at a Trump rally, narrowly missing the former president and killing one attendee, with two more injured. Authorities are investigating Saturday’s shooting as an assassination attempt but are yet to make any determinations about the shooter’s motive or find evidence of any ideological connection. Trump has responded by calling for unity. Biden has asked to tone down heated political language.
Trump’s call, when he stood up after the shooting — to “fight!” — became a recurring chant during Monday’s convention proceedings.
Monday’s prime-time programming also included a prerecorded video of Trump encouraging supporters to vote early or by mail even as he repeated false claims that the 2020 election was fraudulent and said he ultimately wants one-day voting with paper ballots.
The first session of the Republican National Convention opened with the Pledge of Allegiance led by Debbie Kraulidis, an Illinois activist who attended the Jan. 6, 2021, rally on the National Mall that led to a riot at the U.S. Capitol.
Cut through the 2024 election noise. Get The Campaign Moment newsletter.
Nevada GOP Chairman Michael McDonald, who seconded Donald Trump’s formal nomination for president, helped organize alternate electors falsely claiming Trump won his state in 2020.
Ed Martin, the deputy policy director of the convention platform committee, was in the mob outside the Capitol on Jan. 6. At least three other people photographed in that mob are serving as delegates. So are five people who previously served as alternate electors, including four who have been charged with fraud, forgery and conspiracy.
Their roles in this convention show how much election denial has permeated the party and its institutional acceptance of the first disruption to the peaceful transfer of power since the Civil War. Even before Saturday’s assassination attempt led leaders of both parties to urge restraint of violent language, the convention organizers were working to avoid making Jan. 6 central to the week’s programming, in contrast to the typical emphasis in Trump’s speeches and interviews.
“The overall viewpoint we have right now is looking forward,” Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley said in an interview last week, before the assassination attempt. Asked whether Jan. 6 would be on the agenda, Whatley said, “No, not at all.”
Follow Election 2024
Trump’s advisers don’t view Jan. 6 and election fraud claims as favorable issues for the voters Trump needs to win, instead framing the convention around Republican polling strengths such as the economy, crime, immigration and foreign policy. Still, the presence of Jan. 6 participants and critical responses from Democrats are poised to complicate those efforts as the shadow of Trump’s efforts to overturn the last election remains a driving force of his candidacy and party.
“It’s stupid,” said Marc Short, a top aide for former vice president Mike Pence, who refused Trump’s pressure to try to overturn Joe Biden’s 2020 victory. “Don’t do anything at the convention that takes away attention from Biden. Doing something controversial that involves the fake electors does that.”
The Biden campaign and the Democratic National Committee are planning billboards, bus wraps, news conferences and surrogates on the ground in Milwaukee to counterprogram the convention with messages, including about Trump’s pledge to pardon people convicted in the Jan. 6 riot and his threats of further political violence if he loses again.
“Trump’s Republican Party is based on election denialism and loyalty to him over everything,” DNC spokeswoman Hannah Muldavin said. “Trump’s far-right MAGA policies have fully taken over the Republican Party and their platform.”
Trump’s rallies sometimes start with a rendition of the national anthem and the Pledge of Allegiance featuring his voice alongside inmates charged in the riot, including some convicted of assaulting police. Over the years since the riot, he has steadily increased his glorification of the defendants, hailing them as mistreated patriots. His mention of “the J6 people” at a rally in Florida last week prompted cries of “Release the hostages!”
“All of their persecution is only happening because I am running for president,” he said at the Florida rally. About 1,000 people have pleaded guilty or been convicted at trial in connection with the riot, a third of them for felonies and two-thirds for misdemeanors such as trespassing in the restricted Capitol building or on its grounds. Four people died in the melee.
The danger of escalating political violence in America reached another tragic milestone with Saturday’s shooting at a Trump rally, narrowly missing the former president and killing one attendee, with two more injured. Authorities are investigating Saturday’s shooting as an assassination attempt but are yet to make any determinations about the shooter’s motive or find evidence of any ideological connection. Trump has responded by calling for unity. Biden has asked to tone down heated political language.
Trump’s call, when he stood up after the shooting — to “fight!” — became a recurring chant during Monday’s convention proceedings.
Monday’s prime-time programming also included a prerecorded video of Trump encouraging supporters to vote early or by mail even as he repeated false claims that the 2020 election was fraudulent and said he ultimately wants one-day voting with paper ballots.
